Alonso to Liverpool: Leverkusen Stars That Could Potentially Follow

With Jurgen Klopp’s end-of-season departure looming, Xabi Alonso is Liverpool’s number one managerial target, according to recent reports. Klopp will undoubtedly leave a huge void in the club’s infrastructure, but the hierarchy at Anfield tip Alonso as the right man for the job.

Alonso’s Leverkusen side currently sit top of the Bundesliga table, five points clear of reigning champions Bayern Munich in second place. This comes after a hugely impressive 3-0 victory over their title rivals on Saturday, taking their title pursuit to a new level.

Recent reports have also suggested that Alonso would want to bring Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz to Anfield in a deal worth up to £85million. But there could be more options for Liverpool to explore come the end of the season, and that’s what we will be evaluating today…

Leverkusen’s Starboy

So, let’s start with the potential signing of Wirtz, who has been on the radar of Europe’s elite clubs for some time now. However, the 2023-24 season has seen the young German take his game up. The 20-year-old is one of the hottest prospects on the continent at the moment and has already shown clear signs of fulfilling his potential.

Wirtz has already made 29 appearances in this record-breaking season for Leverkusen, racking up an astounding 23 direct goal contributions already. Of those goal involvements, 15 are assists whilst also managing to chip in with an impressive eight goals.

Despite his young age, Wirtz also showcases a high level of experience. With 132 senior appearances for Leverkusen already, scoring 31 goals and assisting 45, his world-class quality comes without a doubt. His impressive club record has also earned him 14 senior caps for the German National Team, and he will look to impress at the Euros in the summer.

Revolutionary Tactical Signing

Another player Alonso could bring to Merseyside is Leverkusen’s flying right-back Jeremie Frimpong. The 23-year-old has featured on 27 occasions this season, scoring eight goals and assisting ten. That’s 18 direct goal involvements in 27 appearances, with 13 coming in his 20 Bundesliga appearances.

That level of creative output perfectly matches Liverpool’s full-back approach, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson being pivotal in this tactical direction. However, signing Frimpong could release Alexander-Arnold into a regular midfield role at Anfield. That tactical shift has been questioned frequently over recent years, but the signing of Frimpong would be the perfect opportunity to make that move stick.

Frimpong came through the Manchester City academy before making 122 appearances for Leverkusen. Liverpool would undoubtedly face competition from Manchester City for his signature, with the Citizens in the driving seat as they look to replace Kyle Walker.

Long-Term Transfer Target

Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie has regularly been linked with a potential move to Merseyside, especially over the past 12 months. The 22-year-old has also faced interest from Bayern Munich and Barcelona, but Alonso could bring him to Anfield.

Hincapie hasn’t entirely managed to secure the game time that he hoped, largely due to the impressive form of Jonathan Tah and Edmond Tapsoba, but his potential is clear. As a young, left-footed defender, there aren’t many players like the Ecuadorian on the transfer market.

Since joining Leverkusen in 2021, the defender has made 99 appearances across all competitions. This season has seen the youngster feature on 23 occasions but only starting 38% of Leverkusen’s Bundesliga games.